comment

Bourdain was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, his alma mater, delivering the keynote address at commencement ceremonies Thursday.

“The CIA is an institution that I’m very grateful for having attended,” Bourdain told the 143 graduates and their families. “It was incredibly important to me. I had a good time here, and I’m grateful for all of the skills I learned and the experiences I had.”

Bourdain, who also attended Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, enrolled at the CIA in 1978. He gained fame with his book "Kitchen Confidential," and now hosts "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown" on CNN.

“What kind of a place do we want to work in? What kind of leaders do we want to be?” Bourdain told graduates. “Please go out there in this new world that is being created right in front of us right now…and change that world for the better.”